Only one week is left until the public street pianos, which have been strewn across various locations in New York, will be taken down. The campaign is hosted by Sing for Hope, a charitable organization which brings together professional artists worldwide to set up volunteer programs to benefit schools, hospitals and communities.
The street pianos, Play Me, I’m Yours, are by artist Luke Jerram. The campaign consists of public pianos located in parks, squares, bus shelters, train stations, galleries, markets, bridges, ferries, and other areas within a public urban space. The pianos are placed in these locations for any member of the public to play them. To date, nearly 167 pianos have been installed in 8 cities worldwide.
In New York city, the pianos are scattered around the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island during the hours of 9 am to 10 pm each day until July 5. Details about the various locations of these pianos can be found on the following website: http://www.streetpianos.com/nyc2010/.
On July 5 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, a free celebration will be held for the completion of the piano installation at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park, where the pianos will be played by a variety of New York City’s musicians. These musicians range from opera singers to indie rock artists. For more information about the event visit: http://singforhope.org/july-5-sing-for-hope-performs-at-lincoln-center.
The overall aim of the project has been to provoke individuals and communities in engaging, activating, and claiming ownership of the urban landscape they live in. Engage, activate, and claim they have! New Yorkers from around the city have been posting photos and videos daily about their experiences with the pianos. Indeed, the photos and videos demonstrate how a small team at Sing for Hope (5 full-time and 12 part-time members) can contribute to their mission of using the arts as a tool for positive social change. What’s touching about this art installation is that communities around the world are empowered to continue to engage with the arts long after the campaign has reached completion - when the campaign is finished, the pianos are donated to schools and community groups in the area.
Play Me, I'm Yours Piano in Central Park, New York
Photo credits: www.allofustogether.ca
This installation is also available in London until July 10. To find out more visit the following link: www.streetpianos.com/london2010/.
"I know the world is filled with troubles and many injustices. But reality is as beautiful as it is ugly. I think it is just as important to sing about beautiful mornings as it is to talk about slums. I just couldn't write anything without hope in it." — OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
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